Thom Tillis sworn in as North Carolina’s newest US senator

By Renee Schoof - rschoof@mcclatchydc.com

Updated January 6, 2015 10:20 PM

New Congress — Vice President Joe Biden, who under the Constitution is president of the Senate, administers the Senate oath to Sen. Thom Tillis R-N.C., left, of Huntersville with wife Susan Tillis, during a ceremonial re-enactment swearing-in ceremony, Tuesday in the Old Senate Chamber of Capitol Hill in Washington. Thirteen new senators and 21 who were re-elected in November took their oaths, escorted by their predecessors or senators of their states. Tillis was escorted by North Carolina’s senior senator, Republican Richard Burr. Afterward, Tillis sat in the back side section of desks with fellow freshmen. AP

Thom Tillis, the former N.C. House speaker, took the oath of office as a U.S. senator at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday with his wife, Susan, watching from the balcony – and later, in a ceremonial re-enactment, with his wife at his side.

Vice President Joe Biden, who has the role under the Constitution as president of the Senate, administered the oath in the Senate chamber. Thirteen new senators and 21 who were re-elected in November took their oaths in groups of four in alphabetical order, escorted by their predecessors or senators of their states.

Tillis, a Republican, was escorted by North Carolina’s senior senator, Republican Richard Burr.

This story was originally published January 6, 2015 at 5:06 PM.

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